“The FA itself must set a clear set of sanctions against racist abuse on the field that reflects the seriousness of the offence”

Society of Black Lawyers

In addition, the society has also warned the Football Association and Tottenham Hotspur that it will make a complaint to police unless action is taken against what it says is anti-Semitic abuse taking place at White Hart Lane.

Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by the FA for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, while Suarez received an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra.

The society described those sanctions as "a slap on the wrist", adding: "The FA itself must set a clear set of sanctions against racist abuse on the field that reflects the seriousness of the offence."

It also says it will report any anti-Semitic chants at Tottenham games to the Metropolitan Police unless the club and FA show they are acting.

Peter Herbert, who chairs the group, said: "In discussions with members of the Jewish community, we were made aware that this practice is still continuing and it has to come to an end.

"If neither Tottenham FC nor the FA are willing to take a stand then SBL will report the matter to the Metropolitan Police Service for investigation and, if necessary, prosecution. The report will be made if this behaviour does not cease by 20 November. We will have monitors in attendance to observe what occurs."

Wednesday's meeting between Kick It Out and a selection of football's leading authorities is a scheduled get-together of the anti-racism charity's trustees.

Comments

If you're wondering why I wrote "y.." in my previous post, I was told by the automated message that I could not use a profanity. My own word - the Jewish word for "Jew" - is a profanity. That's mad (meshugga, we would say).

There's a lack of consistency in punishing offences and the authorities should works towards consistency. Will this happen? The FA don't want to move forward in most aspects of the game and follow examples of other governing bodies in using technology to help officials. Racism currently has a high profile, what about other forms of abuse? There are no openly gay pro players in this country...

Never heard such nonsense. Why doesn't Mr Herbert get a proper job? I am no fan of Chelsea or John Terry but fined £220,000 for a bit of name calling and they say it is a slap on the wrist. Somebody can end a player's career with a bad tackle and gets a three game ban. Sticks and stones etc.

Ok, but your original point implied that the enslavement of blacks was a white-only activity and that gave blacks a reason for reacting against the white minority - by, for example, creating the Black Society of this or that.

Equal access to opportunities should be available to minorities, but not an unfair leg up - which is precisely what this society is seeking to achieve.

I get concerened about all the minority groups wanting their own associations and legal rights, how many different societies will we end up with. This ends up dividing society, remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Black Players Union stinks of racism also - in the USA there are colleges exclusively for black students but there are none for whites, they're not allowed them because it's deemed racist. .You cannot argue the case for racism if you segregate the people you're supposed to be arguing for.

This has just been blown out of proportion completely, the majority of racism is not happening on the pitch, but off it. And is not predominantly based in this country, there are probably individual cases, but these are individual, point case Chelsea v Utd recently. Having just Black lawyers is as someone else has quoted prejudice in itself as there is more than just black players. it's a joke!

Yes I agree, sacked if the proof is there but with the FA's ridiculous Probability of Proof you can not be 100% sure what has been said unless it is heard by a mic or by a few people.The FA need to buck up first and foremost and we can move on from there, but until the FA change their ways we have no chance!!!

This 20% quota business is the one thats interesting to me, I assume that the objective is to get 1 in fives teams to have a black manager.

Fact, most teams have managers who were ex players, in the Premiership now the average age of a manager is just over 50 years old, which would mean that on average they would have been in their peak in 1988.

seems to me that this black players association gives the black players a ridiculous monopoly on insults as it will be considered fine for all black players to abuse any other ethnic background but as soon as it goes the other way it's racist, I'm certainly not condoning racism towards anyone, I just the message that needs to be promoted is e are all the same and creating these counter groupis not

It is sad that many of the comments on this thread are as confrontational as some of the players and fans. Footballl was once a sport where confrontational behaviour was absent, sporting behaviour was predominant, and spectators expressed their loyalties in a more positive way. (see my next post)

Calling someone Brown Yellow White Black is not racist..Saying they have to stand in a area reserved for them,is racist. not letting them play in your team because their yellow is racist..What Germany did to the Gipsy's and the Jews is raciest . Calling someone a White Berk or a Black Twit is not racist..

Everyone jumping on the bandwagon when derogitory comments have been part and parcel of the terraces for as long as I can remember.From someone with a number of non-white friends I know many see this as overkill - is reference to skin colour more offensive than a song claiming a manager is a peodophile ?I don't know the answer because I am neither, but some perspective is needed

I'm all for hanging racists out to dry, no problem with that. The problem i do have is the burden of proof is too low to be able to action these things. There is too much he said/she said going on. Also the fact context is taken out the equation doesn't help.

If you look at the defence of the last 2 big cases, context was ignored in both cases. That can't be right in todays society.

BBC links

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